title: Association between dietary folate intake and serum insulin-like growth factor-1 levels in healthy old women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  High serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) seem to coincide with higher rates of some types of cancer and the risk of all-cause mortality in old people. Eating vegetables seems to reduce IGF-1 levels because they are rich in micronutrients such as vitamins. This study investigates the possible association between vitamin intake and IGF-1 levels in a representative group of healthy elderly women with Mediterranean dietary habits.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study included 124 healthy women with a mean age of 71.3 ± 4.2 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 27.37 ± 3.48 kg/m(2) attending a mild fitness program twice a week at public gyms in Padova. The main parameters considered were IGF-1 (measured by chemiluminescence) and diet, assessed on the basis of a 3-day record and a questionnaire on the frequency with which they usually ate certain foods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean IGF-1 level for the sample as a whole was 136.2 ± 38.9 μg/l, and was significantly lower in women with a higher folate intake (p = 0.04). On simple linear analysis, the vitamins found associated with serum IGF-1 levels were: folates (r: -0.25; p = 0.003); vitamin E (r: -0.21; p = 0.01); vitamin D (r: -0.17; p = 0.03); and riboflavin (r: -0.16; p=0.03). After removing the effect of calorie, protein, carbohydrate and fat intake, and other known potential confounders (age, BMI, alcohol intake), only folate intake correlated with IGF-1 levels (r = -0.17; p = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A folate-rich diet could have the effect of lowering circulating IGF-1 levels in elderly women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine- DIMED, Geriatrics Section, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carraro
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Veronese
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bolzetta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Rui
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berton
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pizzato
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Toffanello
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Ronch
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Miotto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coin
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Manzato
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sergi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D005492:Folic Acid
keywords: Folates; IGF-1; Mediterranean diet; Old people